Electrical blasting-machine.



PATENTED MAR. 26, 1907.

L. W. BOWMA ELECTRICAL BLA STING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 25.1906.

, INVENTOR ,4 TTOBAEV bf/TNESSSS 1 a {W my mursn srarns PATENT OFFICE- LUCIEN W. BOWMAN, OF READING, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB OF ONE- HALF TO JOHN H. LEWIS, OF READING, PENNSYLVANIA.

- ELECTRICAL BLASTlNG-MACHINE.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. March 26, 1907.

Application filed April 25, 1906- Serial No. 313,559-

To (tZl whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LUoIEN W. BOWMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Heading, in the county of Berks and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new 7 and useful Improvements in Electrical Bl asting-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

' This invention relates to improvements in electrical blasting-machines; and the object is to provide-a machine by means of which a number of blasting-cartridges may be exploded at a single operation.

A further ob ect is to provide a machine in which the accidental discharge is reduced to a minimum.

My device consists of a series of connected storage batteries suitably housed in a closed casing, in which the circuit is closed by contacting the plugs on the ends of the firing lines by inserting one of said plugs in a protected opening at one end of the casing and touching the plug on the other line to the exposed plate at the opposite end of the casing. By having the one contact-point protected I overcome all danger of accidental discharge. My present device is intended more particularly to replace the generators now used for this purpose. These generators are costly and require constant care and repairin In my device the action is positive, as I do not depend on the generation of the current, which is often faulty.

The invention is more fully described in "the following specifications and clearly illustratedin the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 shows a plan view of my machine, and Fig. 2 is a sectional View of one end thereof.

The numeral 1 designates a rectangular casing divided into compartments. These compartments may be increased in number to suit thepower of the machine desired. In each of these compartments, with the exception of the one at either end in which the contact point is. located, I provide a storage battery 2. These batteries are connected by wires 3. The numeral 4 designates a jack-' plug inserted in the wall of the casing at one of the vaca? .t compartments, and this plug is connected to the line of batteries 2. A hinged wing member 5 is provided at the outside of the casing, adapted to close the opening into this plug, and this wing engages a staple 6, on which ajock may be secured. At the opposite end of the casing I provide anexposed contact-plate 7, having a shank 8 leading into the vacant compartment at that end of the casing. This shank 8 is also 0611- nected to the line of batteries. The numeral 9 indicates a suitable cover for the casing. The firing-lines 10 are provided with plugs 11- at their extremities.

The operation is as follows: When it is do sired to explode the cartrid es with which the firin -lines are connecte the Wing 5 is unlocke thus uncovering the opening to the jack-plug 4, and one of the plugs 10 is inserted into this opening, making an eiectrical connection through the jack-plug. When the signal to fire is given, the plug 10 on the other firing-line is simpl held against or wiped over the surface 0 the exposed contact-plate 7 and the circuit is closed, thus exploding all the cartridges with which the line is connected.

It is evident that a large number of cartridges may be exploded at a single operation by. merely increasing the number of batteries, while, on the other hand, a very small number may be exploded without a waste of power.

Having thus fully described my invention,

-what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In combination with an open circuit having terminals, a receptacle containing a battery and having in one of its sides an opening,

a plate attached to one of the sides of said receptacle and being exposed, a jack-plug located within the receptacle and registering with the opening thereof, a battery locate within the'box and having one of its poles connected with said jack-plug and its other pole connected with said plate, said jackplug adapted to receive one of the circuit-terminals and the other circuit-ternmial being adapted to be brought manually in contact with said plate, a door hinged to the receptacle and adapted to close over the opening thereof, and means for securing said door in closed position over said opening.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ED. A. KELLY, J. OR. KnLLY. 

